Major Accident Hazards

China Launches 2026 National "Safety Production Month" Campaign

China’s work safety authorities have launched the 2026 National “Safety Production Month” campaign for June, combining nationwide risk‑hazard inspections, safety outreach and a 16 June publicity day in Hefei while a draft standard on major accident hazard criteria for fireworks remains open for consultation until mid‑June. This signals intensified enforcement and cultural emphasis on work safety across high‑risk sectors, and gives fireworks producers a short window to help shape binding hazard‑determination rules and align their internal safety programmes.

25 May 2026, 15:38mem.gov.cnChina

China Launches 2026 National “Work Safety Month” Campaign

China’s State Council Work Safety Commission Office and the Ministry of Emergency Management have launched the 2026 nationwide Work Safety Month campaign for June, emphasising hazard identification, rectification and public awareness across sectors. While it does not create new legal rules, the campaign signals intensified inspections, risk reporting and safety culture initiatives that companies operating in China should factor into operational planning and incident‑prevention efforts.

25 May 2026, 15:35mem.gov.cnChina

California Proclaims State Of Emergency And Mobilises Hazmat Response After Garden Grove Chemical Incident

In late May 2026, California declared a state of emergency in Orange County and mobilised more than 785 specialised responders after a major hazardous chemical incident at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove. The scale of the evacuation, intensive air and water monitoring, and targeted methyl methacrylate exposure guidance underscores the need for strong chemical storage controls, emergency planning and public health communication for industrial sites in populated areas.

25 May 2026, 10:01gov.ca.govUnited States

US NRC Seeks Comment on Draft Level 3 Probabilistic Risk Assessment Project Documentation (Volume 1 Summary Report)

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has released a draft summary report from its full-scope Level 3 probabilistic risk assessment project for public comment, with feedback due by July 2026. The study will guide how advanced risk modelling informs future nuclear safety decisions, so operators and vendors should review the findings and consider commenting to shape emerging risk-informed regulatory expectations.

24 May 2026, 21:36federalregister.govUnited States

US EPA Seeks Comment on Renewal of Oil Pollution Act Facility Response Plan ICR

US EPA has submitted a renewal of its Oil Pollution Act facility response plan information collection (ICR 1630.15; OMB 2050-0135) to OMB and opened an additional 30-day public comment period through 22 June 2026. Large oil-handling facilities that must maintain EPA-approved response plans should expect ongoing reporting and recordkeeping obligations and may wish to comment on the projected burden and programme assumptions before OMB approval.

24 May 2026, 21:32federalregister.govUnited States

Great Britain HSE Announces Appeal Hearing On Explosives Licence Variation For Faldingworth Defence

An appeal has been lodged by Faldingworth Defence Limited against an HSE-imposed variation of its explosives licence under the Explosives Regulations 2014, with a public hearing scheduled in London on 15–16 June 2026 and a 5 June deadline for third parties to seek to be heard. The case could clarify how HSE applies separation-distance and licence-variation powers for explosives sites, so defence and explosives operators may wish to monitor the outcome for potential implications for their own licensing and site layouts.

23 May 2026, 19:20press.hse.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Slovakia Adopts Government Regulation 90/2026 Amending ATEX Equipment Rules for Internal Market Emergencies

Slovakia has adopted Government Regulation 90/2026, amending its ATEX equipment rules to introduce emergency conformity assessment and market-surveillance procedures for crisis-designated products, effective 30 May 2026. Manufacturers, notified bodies and market-surveillance authorities for ATEX equipment in Slovakia should prepare to prioritise crisis-labelled products, adapt documentation for possible manufacturer self-declarations, and ensure processes can rapidly switch to the EU internal market emergency regime when triggered.

23 May 2026, 19:12slov-lex.skSlovakia

German CA Urges More Self‑Reactivity Testing For Hydrogen Peroxide Below 42.5% In CLP 25th ATP Process

In May 2026, the German Competent Authority for REACH and CLP endorsed RAC’s proposed oxidising classification thresholds for hydrogen peroxide in the planned 25th ATP to CLP but warned that self-reactive properties may remain relevant for solutions below 42.5%, especially in biocidal products. This signals that EU assessors may increasingly expect additional self-reactivity testing and physical-hazard justification for hydrogen peroxide formulations below current harmonised thresholds, raising future compliance and testing burdens for biocide and other mixture manufacturers.

23 May 2026, 16:13circabc.europa.euEuropean UnionGermany

Argentina Adopts New Regulation on Transport of Liquid Hydrocarbons (RTHL)

Argentina’s Secretariat of Energy has adopted Resolution SE 119/2026, introducing a new Regulation for the Transport of Liquid Hydrocarbons (RTHL) for interprovincial and import/export pipelines from May 2026. Pipeline operators and hydrocarbon producers will need to align design, operation and integrity management of existing and planned assets with updated international standards, potentially triggering reviews of projects, authorisations and investment plans.

23 May 2026, 11:13cda.org.arArgentina

Netherlands Updates Parliament on Fire Services, Crisis Management and Safety Regions Act Revision

In May 2026 the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security outlined reforms to fire services, crisis management and emergency communications, while confirming that the first tranche of amendments to the Safety Regions Act will reach Parliament later this year. These steps will reshape how the Netherlands plans for and coordinates major incidents, including industrial chemical scenarios, but concrete new duties for operators and sites will only be known once the draft law is published and debated.

23 May 2026, 09:14zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Finland STUK Opens Consultation On Draft Nuclear Fuel Handling And Facility Preparedness Orders

Finland’s nuclear regulator STUK has opened consultations on two draft binding orders revising technical safety requirements for nuclear fuel handling and storage and emergency preparedness at nuclear facilities, with comments due by 2 July 2026. These measures form part of a wider overhaul of the Nuclear Energy Act framework and will shape future expectations for licensees’ responsibilities, risk-based safety design and associated environmental assessment obligations.

23 May 2026, 09:13lausuntopalvelu.fiFinland

China MEM Consults On Mandatory Industry Safety Standards For Fireworks Retail Stores And Internal Transport

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has opened a consultation on two draft mandatory industry safety standards for fireworks retail outlets and internal use of electric vehicles transporting hazardous goods, with comments due by mid-July 2026. Fireworks manufacturers and retailers operating in China should review these drafts now, as the final standards are likely to set binding technical baselines for store layouts, equipment and internal logistics safety planning.

23 May 2026, 08:56mem.gov.cnChina

UK OPRED Approves Pelican Offshore Decommissioning Programme

In May 2026 the UK offshore regulator recorded approval of a further offshore oil and gas decommissioning programme, adding a Pelican project entry to its public OPRED decommissioning register. This signals continued progression of UKCS assets into the decommissioning phase under the Petroleum Act regime, reinforcing removal obligations and associated cost and environmental management expectations for operators and their supply chains.

23 May 2026, 08:56gov.ukUnited Kingdom

China Ministry of Emergency Management Consults on Two Mandatory Fireworks Safety Standards

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has opened a public consultation on two draft mandatory safety standards for fireworks retail stores and internal transport vehicles, with comments due by 15 July 2026. These standards would tighten safety management expectations for fireworks retailers and manufacturers, shaping future facility design, equipment choices, and regulatory inspections.

23 May 2026, 08:55mem.gov.cnChina

Connecticut Public Act 26-127 (HB 05340) – Renewable Power Generation and Solar Program Reform

In May 2026 Connecticut enacted Public Act 26-127 (HB 5340), a wide-ranging renewable power law that overhauls residential, commercial and community solar programs, extends storage incentives and tightens safety and permitting rules for large generation facilities through 2035. This creates significant new tariff and procurement opportunities but also introduces siting limits, reporting duties and code and permitting changes that solar developers, utilities and large energy users in Connecticut must factor into project planning and compliance.

22 May 2026, 18:59cga.ct.govUnited States

Gerechtshof ’s-Hertogenbosch Convicts Manager for BRZO Safety Violations and Ignoring Inspectie SZW Stop Order

In May 2026 the Court of Appeal in ’s‑Hertogenbosch convicted the de facto manager of a Dutch BRZO chemical site for years of breaching Seveso‑related safety duties and ignoring an Inspectie SZW stop order, imposing a suspended prison sentence and a substantial community service order. This ruling clarifies that Dutch managers at major‑hazard installations can face personal criminal sanctions if they continue high‑risk operations with non‑ATEX equipment or bypass Management of Change and hazard‑study requirements, reinforcing the need for strict adherence to BRZO and labour‑safety controls.

22 May 2026, 16:45deeplink.rechtspraak.nlNetherlands

Netherlands Evaluates CLU+ Covenant for 25kV Railway Incident Response

RebelGroup’s 2020–2025 evaluation of the Dutch CLU+ covenant finds that specialist 25 kV response teams on the Betuweroute and HSL-Zuid remain critical for rapid, electrically safe access to rail incidents, but that scenarios for the HSL, governance arrangements and the underlying 2009 funding model are outdated. The report sets out options to revisit the 15-minute response standard, reduce or reprofile HSL night-time coverage, or potentially transfer tasks to ProRail, signalling that future policy choices could materially change how rail operators and safety regions organise and fund high-voltage incident response.

20 May 2026, 19:23zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Netherlands ILT Reports 2025 Follow-Up On Voorschoten Rail Safety Recommendations

In April 2026 the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate published its 2025 monitoring report showing that ProRail has not yet fully implemented any of the Voorschoten rail accident safety recommendations. Rail infrastructure managers and contractors should expect continued ILT scrutiny and growing pressure for a shared incident database, stronger worksite protection, and reduced night-work risks, with potential future enforcement if structural measures lag.

20 May 2026, 19:23zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Finland Consults on Environmental Assessment Plan for Nuclear Facilities Decree

Finland has opened a June 2026 public consultation on the environmental assessment plan for a new Government Decree on Nuclear Facilities under its reformed Nuclear Energy Act. The decree will tighten radiation, discharge and emergency-preparedness requirements for nuclear installations, so operators and related supply chains should track the process and prepare for stricter safety and licensing conditions.

20 May 2026, 19:23lausuntopalvelu.fiFinland

Hong Kong Sets 2026 Timeline for Hydrogen Fuel Regulations Under Gas Safety Ordinance

Hong Kong has amended its Gas Safety Ordinance to bring hydrogen used as fuel under a dedicated safety regime and is preparing subsidiary regulations across the hydrogen supply chain, targeted to commence together in 2026. This creates a clear, upcoming compliance framework for hydrogen projects, so energy, transport and infrastructure operators planning hydrogen investments in Hong Kong should start aligning designs, safety management and cross-boundary logistics with the new gas safety rules.

20 May 2026, 19:17info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR China